Cost of Living Comparison Between Boise, ID and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Boise, ID and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,575 per month in Boise, ID vs $1,265 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,655 per month in Boise, ID vs $2,297 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,735 per month in Boise, ID vs $3,329 in Phuket, rent included.

Boise, ID costs about 103% more than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Boise, ID sits 92% above the global median, while Phuket is 6% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.37 $20.37

$4.70 ฿154

333.40%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$63.9 $63.9

$45.37 ฿1,483

40.93%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.07 $11.07

$8.43 ฿276

31.32%

Cappuccino

$6.33 $6.33

$2.93 ฿95.7

116.04%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.65 $2.65

$0.69 ฿22.42

284.06%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.20 $2.20

$0.37 ฿12.00

494.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.94 $6.94

$2.41 ฿78.7

187.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.07 $7.07

$3.72 ฿122

90.05%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.92 $0.92

$2.23 ฿73.0

-58.74%

White Bread (500g)

$3.46 $3.46

$1.83 ฿59.9

89.07%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.21 $5.21

$2.17 ฿70.9

140.09%

Eggs

$3.99 $3.99

$2.21 ฿72.4

80.54%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.65 $12.65

$19.74 ฿645

-35.92%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.79 $8.79

$3.63 ฿119

142.15%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.48 $13.48

$13.53 ฿442

-0.37%

Apples (1kg)

$4.97 $4.97

$3.28 ฿107

51.52%

Banana (1kg)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.61 ฿52.7

2.48%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.63 $3.63

$2.41 ฿78.7

50.62%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.91 $4.91

$2.08 ฿68.1

136.06%

Potato (1kg)

$2.37 $2.37

$1.53 ฿49.97

54.90%

Onion (1kg)

$2.22 $2.22

$1.48 ฿48.41

50.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.01 $2.01

$0.99 ฿32.32

103.03%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.16 $2.16

$0.51 ฿16.68

323.53%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.56 $8.56

$4.41 ฿144

94.10%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.85 $15.85

$19.38 ฿634

-18.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.85 $1.85

$1.78 ฿58.1

3.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.54 $2.54

$2.71 ฿88.7

-6.27%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.53 $1.53

$1.37 ฿44.83

11.68%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.89 $41.89

$11.39 ฿372

267.78%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.64 $2.64

$3.02 ฿98.7

-12.58%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.54 $1.54

$0.99 ฿32.51

55.56%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.30 $24.30

$14.10 ฿461

72.34%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.93 $0.93

$1.36 ฿44.55

-31.62%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$34.0K $34.0K

$28.2K ฿921.9K

20.55%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$25.5K $25.5K

$32.9K ฿1.1M

-22.50%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$135 $135

$122 ฿3,978

11.17%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$50.1 $50.1

$13.57 ฿444

268.90%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$72.5 $72.5

$18.31 ฿599

295.85%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.02 $40.02

$60.2 ฿1,969

-33.54%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$37.03 $37.03

$17.14 ฿560

116.04%

Cinema Ticket

$12.27 $12.27

$8.69 ฿284

41.20%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,244 $1,244

$693 ฿22.7K

79.36%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.4K $23.4K

$15.7K ฿512.8K

49.16%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.5 $59.5

$59.5 ฿1,946

-0.13%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.62 $34.62

$34.77 ฿1,137

-0.43%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.7 $89.7

$115 ฿3,746

-21.74%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$100.0 $100.0

$83.3 ฿2,723

20.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,555 $1,555

$613 ฿20.0K

153.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,389 $1,389

$437 ฿14.3K

217.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,445 $2,445

$2,094 ฿68.5K

16.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,998 $1,998

$1,509 ฿49.3K

32.39%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,237 $7,237

$3,749 ฿122.6K

93.01%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,099 $3,099

$2,616 ฿85.5K

18.48%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,433 $4,433

$508 ฿16.6K

772.38%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.58

5.33

23.45%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Boise, ID: June 1, 2026

Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,555 in Boise, ID versus $613 in Phuket. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 772% higher in Boise, ID, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $64.0 in Boise, ID versus $45.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $368 vs $293 – making Phuket the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Boise, ID vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Boise, ID costs about 103% more than Phuket, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,862 per month in Boise, ID and $1,898 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Phuket, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $1,244 per month in Boise, ID and $693 in Phuket. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 26% more in Boise, ID, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,265, than in Boise, ID at $2,575. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Boise, ID it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Phuket costs $1,265 versus $2,575 in Boise, ID. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Phuket. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Boise, ID makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.